Greetings folks.
I was just now browsing BoxRec, and I stumbled across the upcoming fight (3rd March) between Rocky Juarez and Yuriorkis Gamboa.
Now, my first thoughts are, what the hell is up with this fight?! What has Juarez done in order for Gamboa's handlers to see this as the next logical step? I understand that Gamboa is moving up in weight, but still. Juarez is a guy who hasn't won in almost 3 and a half years, has a record of 3-8-1 in his last 12 fights, just about scraping a top 50 ranking on BoxRec. I understand that Gamboa may feel he needs an easy fight to readjust to the weight class, but saying that, he knows what to expect, he's fought at the weight numerous times before. I find it odd that he started out as a Super Feather, moved down to Feather, and now is moving back up to Super.
I know that Juarez is a tough customer, my last recollection of him is from when he derailed the Chris John US invasion. Since then however, his biggest achievement has been running Jason Litzau close in a technical decision loss in a fight that was stopped after 7 rounds. I understand that Juarez has had a rough few years, but to me it is clear that he is not even bordering on fringe world level anymore.
I think Juarez deserves a break. It does not seem too long ago since some people were getting really excited about him. The guy now has 9 losses, and assuming Gamboa is going to be his 10th, possibly his most emphatic to date, I don't really see where he goes after that. It's sad to see someone who showed such promise becoming little more than a fringe journeyman/gatekeeper.
I wouldn't have complained if Gamboa's people had picked a more livelier opponent for his return to 130, atleast somebody in the top 20. Jason Litzau, Malcolm Klassen, Gamaliel Diaz, to name a few. I suppose it is irrelevant. Juarez is just a stepping stone/tune-up fight after all. It will be forgotten within a couple of weeks of happening (unless there's a highlight reel KO), and Gamboa will be ready to start making waves at 130. I just find it a little bit of a shame that all this will come at a price, that being the last little bit of "name" value/recognition that can possibly be squeezed out of Rocky Juarez as an opponent.
Well known? Not dangerous but game?
No one's ever annihilated him before, maybe Gamboa will -- might be the rationale behind it.
Is Juarez a Haymon fighter? Because it's true that he gets an undue amount of breaks on TV.